The footballing side of the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 takes a much needed rest today, before screaming back into action on Saturday 1 September in a day where the fate of
all 19 teams entered in the tournament could well be decided.

 

OFC NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS

The Men’s draw – which doubles as qualifying for the OFC Nations Cup later this year in New Zealand and ultimately the FIFA World Cup – South Africa 2010 – sees 4 mouth-watering
fixtures one after another, starting from the Cook Islands and Tuvalu’s Group A battle.

Cook Islands can maintain slim, but frankly unrealistic semi-final hopes via a big win coupled with a similar result over Tahiti on Monday – although would rely on Tahiti beating Fiji
in the evening match. Concurrently, Fiji can seal their own path to the semis, along with that of Cook Islands and Tahiti through anything but a loss.

Group B – the tournament’s proverbial  ‘group of death’ sees Tonga take on American Samoa in the sweltering midday heat with both knowing that a victory will see them
avoid the wooden spoon – save for what would be a monumental victory for Tonga on Monday against Robert Calvo’s impressive Vanuatu team.

Vanuatu take on the Solomon Islands in the afternoon kick-off, where the Solomons need to win by four clear goals in order to afford themselves the opportunity to hold their own destiny
in their Monday afternoon fixture against host nation Samoa.
A draw for Vanuatu, coupled with at least another point on Monday versus Tonga would see them qualify – but they will not
want to take any chances by allowing themselves into a false sense of security.

2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIERS

The Women’s side of the tournament sees the culmination of American Samoa’s epic South Pacific Games Group A journey, when they look to finish on a high note in the morning kick off
against the Solomon Islands. Tunoa Lui’s side has shown continuous improvement since their first game against tournament favourites Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea face Fiji in the afternoon kick-off in what could be a preview of the women’s final. Either country can secure qualification for the semis with a win, but realistically
should both qualify with Monday matches against the Cook Islands and Solomon Islands respectively and healthy goal differences to boot.

Group B sees the reverse fixtures of Thursday’s games, but with only four teams in the group the winner of the Tahiti versus Tonga match will see the winner all but guaranteed a
semi-final berth.

Host nation Samoa will look to use another bumper crowd can buoy them to a victory under lights against New Caledonia. A loss to either team will render their Olympic
qualification over, and their final fixtures on Monday redundant.
 

The Oceania Football Confederation will again endeavour to deliver ‘live updates’ from each of the day’s eight fixtures, which can be accessed by refreshing your browser
periodically.
 

Tournament standings are available at

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/comphome/1534/ofc-nations-cup-south-pacific-games
(men’s)
 

and

http://www.oceaniafootball.com/compdetails/nav/1546/post/6170 (women’s) 

XIII SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES

Match day 4

Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Playing Fields – Apia – Samoa

(GMT-13)

1000hrs   Solomon Islands v American Samoa      Women’s Group A

1000hrs   Tahiti v
Tonga                                       
Women’s Group B

1230hrs   Cook Islands v
Tuvalu                            Men’s Group
A

1230hrs   Tonga v American
Samoa                       Men’s Group B

1430hrs   Vanuatu v Solomon Islands                    Men’s Group
B

1500hrs   Papua New Guinea v
Fiji                        Women’s Group A

1800hrs   Tahiti v
Fiji                                             
Men’s Group A

2030hrs   New Caledonia v
Samoa                        Women’s Group B